It’s a sure sign of spring – the save the date card. Consider this an electronic save the date for some of the Boston area’s most beloved foodie friendly charity events. We’ll supply more details as the events approach so keep an eye out for more information on and reminders about any and all of the following:

Table For Ten
Neurofibromatosis, Inc., New England is planning their Fifth Annual Table for TEN fine dining benefit for Tuesday, April 13th. Parties of ten enjoy a three-course meal at participating restaurants like Artu, Aura, Azure, Bambara, Brasserie Jo, Icarus, Locke-Ober, Lala Rokh, Seasons, Top of the Hub, and The Union Oyster House, whose owner, Joseph Milano, is chairing the event. Proceeds from the dinners benefit the newly formed Harvard Medical School Center for Neurofibromatosis and Allied Disorders. Tickets can be purchased for $100 per person, whole tables can be purchased for $1000. Dinner will be served between 6:30 and 8:00pm on the evening of April 13th, followed by a dessert reception at the Rack in Faneuil Hall. To purchase tickets or to learn more about neurofibromatosis, visit the NF, Inc. website. Be sure to check out their online auction.

Chocolate Madness Returns to the Cyclorama
On Tuesday, April 13th, pro-choice chocolate lovers can gather at The Cyclorama in the South End from 7:00-9:00pm to sample chocolate delights prepared and donated by Boston’s finest restaurants and pastry chefs. Restaurants participating in this year’s Chocolate Madness include Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, Dancing Deer Baking Company, L’Espalier, The Fireplace, Icarus, L.A. Burdick Chocolate, No. 9 Park, Olives, Pho Republique, Sel de la Terre, Truly Jorg’s, Union Bar & Grille, Vinalia, and more. Tickets cost $45 for an all-you-can-eat chocolate feast. Proceeds benefit NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Call 617.556.8800 to purchase tickets and for more information or check their website.

Ninth Annual Taste of the Back Bay
On Friday, April 23rd, the talents and flavors of more than 40 local restaurants, vintners and microbrewers from the Back Bay and beyond will be featured at the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay’s ninth annual A Taste of the Back Bay. The evening of exquisite food, wine, beer and music at The Wang Center Grand Lobby promises to be a satisfying sensory experience for the expected crowd of over 600. A Taste of the Back Bay features tasting portions of signature dishes from some of the Back Bay’s best restaurants, accompanied by tastes of fine wines and micro-brewed beers. The event runs from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Participants include 75 Chestnut Street, Laurel, Brasserie Jo, Island Hopper, Kashmir, Bob the Chef’s, Finale and Blackfin Chop House & Raw Bar restaurants, plus Sakonnet Vineyards, Greenvale Vineyards, Huntington Wine and Spirits and Vermont Pure Spring Water. Advance reservations for A Taste of the Back Bay are $70 per person until April 9th; $80 per person from April 10th through April 22nd; and $90 per person on the day of the event. Reservations can be made by calling the NABB office at 617.859.7787.

Beyond Shelter Event to Benefit the Friends of Boston’s Homeless
Join local dignitaries, celebrities and renowned chefs at Avalon on Wednesday, April 28th for an evening of great food and fantastic music to benefit the Friends of Boston’s Homeless. Starting at 6:00pm, guests can sample delicious fare from twenty-five of the area’s finest restaurants including Hamersley’s Bistro, Jasper White’s Summer Shack, Armani Café, Sonsie, Icarus, Dedo Lounge & Bistro, Le Soir, Legal Sea Foods, Bob the Chef’s, Aquitaine, Redbones and Iggy’s Bread. Dance to the big band sounds of the Kendrick Oliver & The New Life Jazz Orchestra and enter to win fabulous auction and raffle prizes including a deluxe trip to New York, a weekend stay at The Four Seasons Boston, fine arts and jewelry, and premium tickets to performances and sporting events around Boston. Tickets cost $50 per person ($20 after 8:00pm if you’re only interested in music and dancing). All proceeds benefit Friends of Boston’s Homeless transitional programs including, Permanent Affordable Housing, Job Training, and Adult Education and Literacy. For more info visit www.fobh.org or call 617.534.2526, ext. 383 to order tickets.

Taste of the Nation
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation 2004 is scheduled for Thursday, April 29th at the Hynes Convention Center. From 6:30-9:30pm, sample tasty little morsels from more than 80 of the Boston area’s restaurants, wineries and breweries in the foremost culinary fundraisers in the country. Tickets cost $75 in advance and $85 at door. There are also special VIP tickets for $125, which will gain the bearer admittance to a special VIP reception starting at 5:30pm. Some of the restaurants scheduled to participate include Ariadne Restaurant & Bar, Azure, Blackfin, Blue Room, Caffe Umbra, Craige Street Bistro, Dedo, EVOO, Finale, Grotto, Hamersley’s, Icarus, Julien at the Langham Hotel, Le Soir, Pigalle, Redbones, Sage and Sandrine’s. Call 617.267.1187 to purchase your tickets and check the Taste of the Nation website for more details and a complete list of participating restaurants.

Edible Art 2004
Boston’s leading chefs and restaurants are gearing up for the 11th annual Edible Art on Thursday, April 29th at 6:00pm when they’ll unveil interpretations of their favorite works of art, through food. The Art Institute of Boston and Shreve, Crump & Low invite guests to an evening of artful feasting, vintage wines, music, and an exceptional silent auction amidst Shreve, Crump & Low’s elegant collection of jewelry, table-top displays, crystal, antiques, and more. Meet celebrity judges and our M.C.’s for the evening, WBZ-TV 4 news anchors Lisa Hughes and Joe Shortsleeve. It’s all for a great cause ~ proceeds from Edible Art benefit the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University’s nationally recognized scholarship program. Tickets cost $150 per person and can be purchased by calling 617.267.8862. Check back with us for a list of the restaurants scheduled to participate.

Party For a Plate
The 13th annual Party for a Plate to benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank will be held on Thursday, April 29th at Cyclorama in Boston’s South End. Party for a Plate, organized by a committee of young alumni from various colleges throughout Greater Boston will feature tastings from breweries, wineries and restaurants throughout New England as well as live entertainment, fabulous raffle prizes and auction items. All proceeds from this event go directly to The Greater Boston Food Bank and will help feed the hungry in eastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.gbfb.org or call 617.427.5200 extension 5050. Check back with us as the event approaches for a list of participating restaurants.